Switch



Feb. 15, 1949. A. sz-ERuP ETAL, ZALQLW? swmcn Filed. Aug. 29, 1946 I 2 Sheets-Shet 1 I f INVENTORS ALEXANDER SZERLIP STANLEY SZERIJD v A Nam/5y A. SZERLRP ETAL SWITCH Eek. 15, 3949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29-, 1946 INVENTORS ALEXANDER SZERLIP BY S ANLEY SZERLIP with a depending portion 48 having an annular groove 49 intercepting vertical slots t formed in said depending portion it for the reception of posts 5| which are notched as at 52 to receive a snap ring 53. The ring is mounted in the annular groove a9 when the contact member 42 is assembled with a cap 54 on the inner wall of which is formed the posts 5| into which the snap ring 53 may be urged to lock the parts together. The outlet end of cap 55 may be threaded as at 55 so that the device may be attached to a fixture.

When the parts are fully assembled as illustrated in Fig. 2, the switch ring 26 is free to be rotated between the cap 54 and the socket il. When the ring is rotated in either direction it will bring the arcuate cam 21 into contact with the latch 28 and force the latter inwardly until the upper and lower edges of the latch disengage themselves from the notches Ml and 45 of the contact member 42 and socket l! respectively. The switch disc 32 is provided at its side opposite the latch 28 with an extension 56 which is connected by the tension springs 51 and 58 to pins 59 on the arcuate cam 21.

These springs tend to keep the switch disc 32 centered, but when the switch ring 26 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction on Fig. 3, it will place spring 58 under tension and as soon as the arcuate cam 2'! of the switch ring releases the latch 28, the spring 58 will cause rotation of the switch disc to-bring either a closed section or an open section thereof into register with the meeting ends of the contact strips 23 and 4B. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the openings 39 in the switch disc 32 permits contact of the members 23 and so that a circuit is completed from cations coming within the scopeof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by'United States Letters Patent is:

1. An electric light switch socket comprising socket and contact members, a switch disc between said socket and contact members, a switch ring, springs connecting said ring and the disc for yieldably maintaining the latter in one position, means associated with the disc for locking the same at said one position, means on said ring for retracting the locking means when the ring is rotated to tension one of said springs to cause the unlocked disc to snap to another locking position, circuit making and breaking strips engaging opposite sides of said disc, the latter the threaded metal jacket 21 of the light bulb,

through ring 20, through rivet 22, through the contacts 23 and ill and through a rivet it that supports terminal member 6! in position to have secured thereto the end of a wire 62.

The other side of the line indicated as at 63 is secured by a terminal member 64 to the bottom of the rivet l9 whose upper end has attached thereto a spring strip which engages the usual button 66, shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, on the bottom of the light bulb M. The switch ring 26 may be moved in either direction and alternate movements in one direction will turn the switch to on or oii positions. The concave portions, in the opposite faces of the switch disc,

will have a tendency to urge the switch disc to,

which provides an audible click at both on and off positions, and which can be adapted satisfactorily and easily for use on the threeway light socket.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions hereindisclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifibeing shaped to provide openings for engagement of said circuit strips with each other at alternate locking positions of said disc, means for securing said socket and contact members together including a pin, said pin providing a pintle upon which said switch disc rotates, a contact ring in the socket for engagement by a light bulb, means for attaching the contact ring to one of said circuit strips, a contact spring arm mounted on said pin for engagement with a light bulb, the pin, the contact ring and the ring attaching means constituting circuit forming members, a cap for one end of the switch socket, and means for detachably securing said cap to the contact member including a snap ring, an annular groove and intersecting vertical slots in said contact member and posts in the cap for engagingsaid slots and having a groove in each post for register with said annular groove for yieldably imprisoning the snap ring therein.

2. An electric light switch socket comprising socket and contact members, a switch disc between said socket and contact members, a switch ring, springs connecting said ring and the disc for yieldably maintaining the latter in one position, means associated with the disc for locking the same at said one position, means on said ring for retracting the locking means when the ring is rotated to tension one of said springs to cause the unlocked disc to snap to another locking position, circuit making and breaking strips engaging opposite sides of said disc, the latter being shaped to provide openings for engagement of said circuit strips with each other at alternate locking positions of said disc, means for securing said socket and contact members together including a pin, said pin providing a pintle upon which said switch disc rotates, a contact ring in the socket for engagement by a light bulb, means for attaching the contact ring to one of said circuit strips, a contact spring arm mounted on said pin for engagement with a light bulb, the pin, the contact ring and the ring attaching means constituting circuit forming members and said disc locking means including a latch, a slot in the disc, a spring for urging the latch outwardly in the slot, and mating slots in the socket and contact members with which said latch has yielding engagement.

3. An electric light switch socket comprising socket and contact members, a switch disc between said socket and contact members, a switch ring, s rings connecting said ring and the disc for yieldably maintaining the latter in one position, means associated with the disc for locking the same at said one position. means on said ring for retracting thevlocking means when the ring is rotated to tension one of said springs to cause nee-ted. betweenssaid;switchxdiscz andsaid switch t .ring to be tensionedras the: a. in one irection .orcthe othe eleasi theiunlockedgd-iscstmsnaptoranctheriiloclcms-rpce sitiorn circuitimaking andzbreakine stripsaen ingeopnositesisidesso ,,:said.;dis.cs;;.theailatterr eme shapedzito p vide openings-l:'forisengae m nt o spring; for (urging. the :latch outwardly zintthe-lsloti andl matingislotsintheesocket v and contact ;members,-.with,which. said latch-has yielding engagement, aicap -f or one end-of-the switch;socket-,-and means, for detachably securing said can to the contact member including a snap-rin anon: nulargrooveandiintersecting verti alzs1. ts,:v inisaid contact member. andaposts inthc can 9 .n sins said slots and having-a groove -i-n--.e post f register with; said annular groove 'i ornyieldably imprisoning-thesnap ring therein. I I

4; In .anrarticle, of: the class. described, a-soclget for; receiving-an electric ;,light :bul-bi a contact member, spaced from ,said. socketbutconcentric therewith, a switch. ring; engagedover I the ad; jacentuends oflsaidsocketiand said.-.contacttmem her; and rotative,relativegthereto, a-,- switch disc between,saidsocketandsaid contactgmember and within said; switch ring s a in extended 5 concentricallyv through. saidcontact member, said-switch disc .andsaid socket connecting; them together so that the: switch disc -m-ay. be; rotated relative to i said socketiand;said contacnmember a contact stripmountedon said soclset and-,engaging the adjacent .face; of. -said,switchdisc, a contact, strip mounted on, said; contact member; and engaging the, other face of: saidswitch disc 1 in alignrnent withzsaid contact strip-oi said socketisaidq switch disc being forined,withlspacediopenings arranged concentricallyabout 1 saidpin and. throughawhinh said contact: strips; engage eachgeother, lit-certain rotati-ve lpositions of, said switch 5.61185, I-a rel? asable latch extending; from: said switch: vdisc; and en aging aligned notches formedzin said socket and; contact r member: for; -ho1dingzthe: switchidisc ,im turned I positions in which the: contact; shims will-engage eachz other through said openings or in. which .thescontactstrips will be held spacedrby the material, of the; switchdisc: between adjacent openings-anarcuate cam ornsaid switche ringgfcr engaging; andurging said latch into a positiondisengagedifromsaid; notches; as; the; switch;- ring-l is turned in -one directionor the other t f i'eeisaid switch: disc to be. turnediandgresilientmeans; on:

fr in heaswitch disc: to l law-turned; in released position of saidlatch.

5. In an article of the class described, a'sochet iorrreceivinsari-electriclightibnlbnazconta tmembersnaced from said: socketbut -.c.o cen ere.- with. sw tch rr ne; sa edovenihe; adi .t endsioftzsaidi, socket. and said; contact member rota-tire; relative hereto;.;.a-; switch di c between said socket and. said contact; memhenandiwithin 7 saidswitch; ring, a pin exten edzcono ntriceliy throu h said, contact member,- ..sai.d. swit h-disc mounted on said contact member andengaging thectherxfaceeQiiid' t disc n l gnme witl said ontactvstrip QfsaidsOcket,saidswitch A efQ medwith-sp ed in rr n ed o c .trica lyboiits i p ndt r sh w ic sai contact .strips engage eachother in certain rotatiye positicns-of said switch disc, a releasable latch -extending from said switch disc and engaging;; alig;ned;--notches formed in said socket and contactqmemberior holding the switch discin turned {positionsin which the contact strips will engage eachotherthrough said openings or-in which the centactstrips will be held spaced by the material of theswitch disc betweenadjacent openings; an,arcuate cam on said switch ring for engaging and ur in Said latch into a position disengaged fromsaidnotches as the-switch ring isdurn d in: ne directi n or t th r to r sa d switch disc to beeturned, and resilient means, con" nected between said; witch disc and said switch rmatc b n oned-as he w h ring is ne inlones direction .orthe; other releasing the, latch freeing the switch, disc to; be turned in the fully released position of; said latch, said latch being radiallmslidablewithin aradial slot formed inithe side Qis-thelsswitch ring, and; resilient means urging said latch, into an ex-tended positionvin which the topland,bottom edgesof the latch engage said aligned notches.

6. Inan articleof the classdescribed, a socket forreeeiying, anelectric light bulb, a contact meme berispacedzfrom said, socketbut concentric therewith, a switch ring engaged over the adjacent ends .of saidsocket and said contact member and. lotatiyerlative thereto, a switch disc b etweensaidsocket, and said contact member and within said switch ring, a pin extended concentri-cally;v through said contact member, said switch discandsaid socket connecting them together sothat the; switch disc may be rotated relative toisaidsocket andsai d contact member, a contact strip,moi,inted onsaid socket andengaging the; adjacent face of said switch disc, a contact strip .mounted on said contact member and engaging the other face of said switchdisc in-alignmentwithcsaidcontact strip of said, socket, said switch. disc beingiorm-ed with spaced openings arranged concentrically about said pin and through which said contact strips engage each other iii-certain rotativepositions of said switch disc, a-,:;re1easable latch extending from said switcl i disc and engaging aligned notches formed ina saiilzsocket and, contact member forholding the switch disc;inturned positions in which the contact; strl Psrwill engage each other through said openings-cr inwhich the contact strips will baheid-snac dby; the materia f he s ch; di between ad nt; izc i nsa amua camon s f r; n a ing andur i g-sa d posi on: l eneae di roms d no e as;:theswith ing is tu n nyo e re on r the-other to r e sai i ch isc e t rn d. andnreeilient mea ns\ connected between said switcmdis aid-sw t h ring tolbe ens n as; the switch ring is; turnedin one direction or the e er: releasin the latch freein h itch vi f-adial; slot formed in the side otthe a and-res ie tm ns rei g said; latch swi ch andisaid.socketconnectinsithem.toscther-sathat--m into. hees ended;ncsit cn i which the t na-ad bottom edges of the latch engage said aligned notches, said latter-mentioned resilient means comprises an expansion spring operating between the base wall of said radial slot and th inner end of said latch.

'7. In an article of the class described, a socket for receiving an electric light bulb, a contact member spaced from said socket but concentric therewith, a switch ring engaged over the adjacent ends of said socket and said contact memher and rotative relative thereto, a switch disc between said socket and said contact member and within said switch ring, a pin extended concentrically through said contact member, said switch disc and said socket connecting them together so that the switch disc may be rotated relative to said socket and said contact member, a contact strip mounted on said socket and engaging the adjacent face of said switch disc, a

contact strip mounted on said contact member and engaging the other face of said switch disc in alignment with said contact strip of said socket, said switch disc being formed with spaced openings arranged concentrically about said pin and through which said contact strips engage each other in certain rotative positions of said switch disc, a releasable latch extending from said switch disc and engaging aligned notches formed in said socket and contact member for holding the switch .disc in turned positions in which the contact strips will engage each other through said openings or in which the contact strips will be held spaced by the material of the switch disc between adjacent openings, an arouate cam on said switch ring for engaging and urging said latch into a position disengaged from said notches as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other to free said switch disc to be turned, and resilient means connected between said switch disc and said switch ring to be tensioned as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other releasing the latch freeing the switch disc to be turned in the fully released position of said latch, said resilient means comprises a pair of springs having their adjacent ends attached to said switch on the side opposite said latch, said springs having their free ends extended in opposite directions and attached to said switch ring.

8. In an article of the class described, a socket for receiving an electric light bulb, a contact member spaced from said socket but concentric therewith, a switch ring engaged over the adjacent ends of said socket and said contact member and rotative relative thereto, a switch disc between said socket and said contact member and within said switch ring, a pin extended concentrically through said contact member, said switch disc and said socket connecting them together so that the switch disc may be rotated relative to said socket and said contact member, a contact strip mounted on said socket and engaging the adjacent face of said switch disc, a contact strip mounted on said contact member and engaging the other face of said switch disc in alignment with said contact strip of said socket,. said switch disc being formed with spaced openings arranged concentrically about said pin and through which said contact strips engage each other in certain rotative positions of said switch disc, a releasable latch extending from said switch disc and engaging aligned notches formed in said socket and contact member for holding the switch disc in turned positions in which the contact strips will engage each other through said openings or in which the contact strips will, be held spaced by the material of the switch disc between adjacent openings, an arcuate cam on said switch ring for engaging and urging said latch into a position disengaged from said notches as the switch ringis turned in one direction or the other to free said switch disc to be turned, and resilient means connected between said switch disc and said switch ring to be tensioned as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other releasing the latch freeing the switch disc to be turned in the fully released position of said latch, said latch being radially slidable within a radial slot formed in the side of the switch ring, and resilient means urging said latch into an extended position in which the top and bottom edges of the latch engage said aligned notches, said latter-mentioned resilient means comprises an expansion'spring operating between the base wall of said radial slot and the inner end of said latch, and an extension formed on the side of said switch disc opposite said latch and to which the adjacent ends of said pair of springs are attached.

9. In an article of the class described, a socket for receiving an electric light bulb, a contact member spaced from said socket but concentric therewith, a switch ring engaged over the adjacent ends of said socket and said contact member and rotative relative thereto, a switch disc between said socket and said contact member and within said switch ring, a pin extended concentrically through said contact member, said switch disc and said socket connecting them together so that the switch disc may be rotated relative to said socket and said contact member, a contact strip mounted on said socket and engaging the adjacent face of said switch disc, a contact strip mounted on said contact member and engaging the other face of said switch disc in alignment with said contact strip of said socket, said switch disc being formed with spaced openings arranged concentrically about said pin and through which said contact strips engage each other in certain rotati've positions of said switch disc, a releasable latch extending from said switch disc and engag ing aligned notches formed in said socket and contact member for holding the switch disc in turned positions in which the contact strips will engage each other through said openings or in which the contact strips will be held spaced by the material of the switch disc between adjacent openings, an 'arcuate cam on said switch ring for engaging and urging said latch into a position disengaged from said notches as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other to free said switch disc to be turned, and resilient means connected between said switch disc and said switch ring to be tensioned as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other releasing the latch freeing the switch disc to be turned in the fully released position of said latch, said contact member spaced from said socket but concentric therewith, a switch ring engaged over the adja- "cent ends of said socket and said contact memher and rotative relative thereto, a switch disc between said socket and said contact member and within said switch ring, a pin extended concentrically through said contact member, said switch disc and said socket connecting them together so that the switch disc may be rotated relative to said socket and said contact member, a contact strip mounted on said socket and engaging the adjacent face of said switch disc, a contact strip mounted on said contact member and engaging the other face of said switch disc in alignment with said contact strip of said socket, said switch disc being formed with spaced openings arranged concentricallyabout said pin and through which said contact strips engage each other in certain rotative positions of said switch disc, a releasable latch extending from said switch disc and engaging aligned notches formed in said socket and contact member for holding the switch disc in turned positions in which the contact strips will engage each other through said openings or in which the contact strips will be held spaced by the material of the switch disc between adjacent openings, an arcuate cam on said switch ring for engaging and urging said latch into a position disengaged from said notches as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other to free said switch disc to be turned, and resilient means connected between said switch disc and said switch ring to be tensioned as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other releasing the latch freeing the switch disc to be turned in the fully released position of said latch, said contact member having a portion extended from the adjacent end of saidswitch ring, and a cap engaged upon the extended portion of said contact member, and means for holding said cap against rotative movement on the extended portion of said contact member.

11. In an article of the class described, a socket for receiving an electric light bulb, a contact member spaced from said socket but concentric therewith, a switch ring engaged ,over the adjacent ends of said socket and said contact member and rotative relative thereto, a switch disc between said socket and said contact member and within said switch ring, a pin extended concentrically through said contact member, said switch disc and said socket connecting them together so that the switch disc may be rotated relative to said socket and said contact member, a contact strip mounted on said socket switch disc in alignment with said contact strip of said socket, said switch disc being formed with spaced openings arranged concentrically about said pin and through which said contact strips engage each other in certain rotative positions of said switch disc, a releasable latch extending from said switch disc and engaging aligned notches formed in said socket and contact member for holding the switch disc in turned positions in which the contact strips will engage each other through said openings or in which the contact strips will be held spaced by the material of the switch disc between adjacent openings, an arcuate cam on said switch ring for engaging and urging said latch into a position disengaged from said notches as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other to free said switch disc to be turned, and'resilient means connected between said switch disc and said switch ring to be tensioned as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other releasing the latch freeing the switch disc to be turned in the fully released position of said latch, said contact member having a portion extended from the adjacent end 10 of said switch ring, and a cap engaged upon the extended portion of said contact member, and means for releasably holding said cap against axial disengagement from the extended portion of said contact member.

12. In an article of the class described, a socket for receiving an electric light bulb, a contact member spaced from said socket but concentric therewith, a switch ring engaged over the adjacent ends of said socket and said contact member and rotative relative thereto, a switch disc between said socket and said contact member and within said switch ring, a pin extended concentrically through said contact member, said switch disc and said socket connecting them toand through which said contact strips engage each other in certain rotative positions of said switch disc, 2, releasable latch extending from said switch disc and engaging aligned notches formed in said socket and contact member for holding the switch disc in turned positions in which the contact strips will engage each other through said openings or in which the contact strips will be held spaced by the material of the switch disc between adjacent openings, an armate cam on said switch rin for engaging and urging said latch into a position disengaged from said notches as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other to free said switch disc to be turned, and resilient means connected between said switch disc and said switch ring to be tensioned as the switch ring is turned in one direction or the other releasing the latch freeing the switch disc to be turned in the fully released position of said latch, said contact member having a portion extended from the adjacent end of said switch ring, and a cap engaged upon the extended portion of said contact member, longitudinally extended radially inwardly directed posts formed within said switch ring and engaging complementary vertical slots formed on the extended portion of said contact member holding said cap against rotation, and a snap ring disposed within a circumferential groove formed on the extended portion of said contact member and bringing said vertical slots and engaging complementary notches formed in said posts to retain said cap against accidental displacement from said extended portion of said contact member.

ALEXANDER SZERLIP. STANLEY SZERLIP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 595,584 Schutt Dec, 14, 1897 999,808 Leppert Aug. 8, 1911 2,247,778 Hoxie July 1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 573,636 Germany Apr. 4, 1933 

